Biden and Bibi: A case of all give and no take

After walking fine line between Israel and US Arab community, experts say Biden has justification to take ‘harder line’ before election, writes David Smith

US president Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a bilateral meeting between Israeli and US government officials last October.

A long time ago, Joe Biden signed a photo for Benjamin Netanyahu . “Bibi, I love you,” he recalls writing. “I don’t agree with a damn thing you say.” 

This twisty, best-of-frenemies relationship has been at the heart of the crisis in Gaza for the past five months. Unfortunately for the US president, the message from Jerusalem has been: he’s just not that into you.